It is a ‘Song and Dance Act’ by baseball
reigning Commissioner Mr.Bud Selig,
the weekend of the 12 and 13 of March
at Peoria and then Scottsdale.
But on Sunday the 13th Major League
Baseball took another punch to the
chin.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Scottsdale, Arizona. [Read more →]

Picture this.

Beautiful sunshine, green grass, A’s playing the Arizona Diamondbacks on a peaceful day in the desert.
Rich Harden on the mound.

Harden winds up and throws effortlessly. The ball is a white a blur coming towards the batter. I look at the radar gun held by the baseball scout sitting next to me. The gun registers 97 MPH.

The ability to pitch a ball at blinding speed always has been one of the most dramatic skills in baseball. [Read more →]

The A’s are loaded with lefthanded hitters in key spots in the batting order.

Here’s the dilemma manager Ken Macha will confront as soon as the games count for real.

With an inexperienced starting pitching staff you can expect to see most games decided in the seventh inning or later.

With lefty hitters Mark Kotsay, Eric Chavez, Erubiel Durazo, and Scott Hatteberg hitting in the one, three, four, and five spots opposing managers will be saving their best lefthanded relievers for the critical situations late in the game. [Read more →]

by Glenn Dickey

WHEN YOU think Billy Beane, think Branch Rickey and Bill Walsh. The A’s general manager always acknowledges his debt to each man.

BIO: Glenn Dickey – 33 years as a sports columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle; author of 16 books, the last being “Champions: The Story of the First Two Oakland A’s Dynasties – and the Building of the Third.” He’s written more than 300 magazine articles, and he’s been a columnist for Pro Football Weekly since 1972. He’s also been featured on several radio and TV shows and am currently a frequent panelist on “The Last Honest Sports Show,” which airs Saturday night on Channel 44.

Check out his new website at: glenndickey.com
Click below for more of Glenn’s first column on baseball. [Read more →]

By A.J. Hayes

It’s ironic that one of the most repeated clichés about catchers is that they wear the “tools of ignorance.” Because as any serious baseball fans knows – while catchers play the most physically demanding position on the field, catcher is also the game’s most cerebral.

There is a reason catchers become managers more often than any other position players after their playing days conclude – because throughout their careers they have been the brains of their respective organizations. Catchers do more than squat and catch what the pitcher hurls. The top and most respected catchers in MLB have the power to dictate the pace of a game. They call pitches, provide on-field leadership and intelligence.

Note: Anthony Hayes is one of the most knowledgeable baseball writers in the Bay Area. For the past few seasons you have read his work in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Game Day Special Baseball Section. We are fortunate to have Anthony joining us this year on our site.

Click below for more!
Thanks, Marty Lurie [Read more →]

Baseball we have a problem, no it is
not in Houston but at 245 Park Avenue
New York at the Office of the Comissioner
and this could get uglier before it gets better.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

This is a difficult question to answer with a simple yes or no. The true answer may not be known for years to come or at the very least until this season plays out.

In the spirit of the upcoming Oscar awards, let’s create categories of interest and give a special baseball award called, “The Bud” (in honor of the commish) to the winner of each category.

Click Below for the awards and my analysis of the winter moves. I welcome your reactions.
Marty

[Read more →]

José Canseco’s controversial
book should be out later this
month of February. A lot of
people are upset at José’s
accusations, but who are
we to say they are not true?

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

The Super bowl has past, the one day I wait for each year, because it signifies that there is nothing in the way of the impending baseball season.

Within the next two weeks the teams will all have reported for training in Arizona and Florida.

I remember reading that the Brooklyn Dodgers trained in both Havana and Panama in 1946 and 47 because the city fathers in Vero Beach Florida wouldn’t permit black players to live or train in Vero Beach.

59 years is not that long ago when considering periods of history, baseball mirrors life and American culture in so many ways, segregation was just one of them, which should never be forgotten.

Steroids and how they helped bodybuilers win championships weren’t ignored by baseball players who also were looking for an edge.

This morning Jose Canseco is back in the news revealing more of the sacred secrets of the clubhouse.

One thing is common when reading all the comments about Jose’s revelations about his teammates steroid use: no one is calling him a liar.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum
is the only museum of its kind in the country.
Established in San Francisco, California
in June 1999, as a nonprofit institution
501(c)(3). This Museum is dedicated
to, recognizing the contributions made
to baseball by its Hispanic players and
once again the HHBM will be present
at the Giants and Athletics Fanfest
to take place on February 12, 2005.
[Read more →]